Enter the realm of teenage rebellion.
Three awkward high schoolers desperate to ditch their loser labels. Their solution, is to throw a Party so epic, it'll rewrite their social status forever.
What starts as a small gathering quickly explodes into a social media-fueled frenzy, attracting the entire town (and then some more).
Project X shattered expectations and redefined the teen comedy genre with its unapologetic portrayal of adolescent hedonism gone awry.
Directed by Nima Nourizadeh, produced by Todd Phillips, and distributed by Warner Bros. and Warner Bros. Pictures, this found-footage gem catapulted into a cult classic that left indelible mark on pop culture.
And the internet loves it, as it help continues its legacy.
What began as two friends, Costa and J.B., who are determined to make a name for themselves by throwing an epic party for their friend Thomas on his 18th birthday, set out an attempt to invite every kid in school for an ultimate house party, before things quickly get out of hands, spiraling out of control.
The party becomes the talk of the town.
The film, which is shot in a found-footage style, shows how swimming pools become trampolines, living rooms morph into dance floors, and the line between controlled chaos and utter pandemonium.
While Thomas's parents are own of town, the trio morphed the cozy home into a party "you've only dreamed about."
From alcohol, drugs and smoking, severe profanity, to partial nudity to tons of sexual references, and not to mention peeking a young woman while urinating behind a car, Project X displays authentic teenage rebellions, with all their flaws and immaturities on display.
Things are pretty much crude and offensive.
At its core, Project X is a raucous celebration of youth.
It's a poignant exploration of adolescence, identity, and the pursuit of self-discovery.
As chaos reigns supreme, friendships are tested, relationships are forged, and the line between fantasy and reality blurs into oblivion.
Due to how Project X showcases the insatiable thirst for freedom as a unique pathway for teenager towards adulthood, in the end, the film becomes a cultural phenomenon.
While Project X wasn't a viral phenomenon that redefined the internet, but it did capture a specific moment in online culture.
It tapped into the growing trend of online party culture, the relatively young world of internet, messaging, and mobile phones with cameras, and the allure of documenting everything on social media.
The film serves as a reminder of the early 2010s online landscape and the evolving way teens interacted and showcased themselves online.
It didn't take long before it becomes the most-pirated film in 2012.
During its box office run, the film grossed $54.7 million in North America and $48 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $102.7 million, against a budget of just $12 million.
And due to its impact in the society, particularly amongst youths, Project X literally influenced a number of real-life House Parties, including 'Project M' which gained media attention after an invitation for it was posted on Twitter by Farmington Hills, Michigan high schooler Mikey Vasovski.
It reached thousands of users, many of them said to be attending. The message was so viral at the time, that it was being resent once per second, and was also posted on Craigslist.
Also in the U.S., a number of attempts to hold house parties were also made, a number of criminal charges were made, a some teenagers were arrested.
When questioned, all of them said that they were inspired by the Project X.
There was also at least one party held in The Netherlands, which was spiraled out of control after a Facebook invitation, and a party in Argentine that gathered at least 4,000 teenagers. There was also one party in Mexico, with invitations sent through Facebook.
In many of the parties, attendees were found bringing alcohol, drugs, and that go-go dancers, strippers and prostitutes. Some brought weapons, including a flame thrower.
